(2) The assessor shall compare the pre-compression consolidated rates for each category as modified under subsection (1) of this section with the rate of $5 per $1,000 of real market value of the property for the public school system category and $10 per $1,000 of real market value of the property for the other government operations category.

(3) If a pre-compression consolidated category rate for a property, as modified under subsection (1) of this section, exceeds the $5 or $10 per $1,000 category rate limits set forth in subsection (2) of this section (whichever is applicable), the consolidated category rate shall be compressed as provided in subsection (4) or (5) of this section.

(4)(a) If local option taxes in the category for which compression is being determined have been adopted by one or more taxing districts that impose taxes on the property, the reduction ratio shall be calculated under this subsection and applied only to the local option taxes imposed on the property.

(b) The numerator of the reduction ratio shall be the amount obtained, but not less than zero, by subtracting the property’s pre-compression consolidated category rate of ad valorem property taxes that are not local option taxes from the maximum rate of ad valorem property taxes for the category.

(c) The denominator for the reduction ratio shall be the total rate of all local option taxes for the category.

(d) The assessor shall multiply the reduction ratio determined under this subsection by the rate of each local option tax in the category to which the property is subject. After reduction, the assessor shall recompute:

(A) The rates per $1,000 of assessed value for the property;

(B) The total amount of local option taxes to be raised in the code area; and

(C) The local option tax rates per $1,000 of assessed value for the code area and incorporate those rates into the consolidated rate for the code area.

(5)(a) If no local option taxes have been adopted by a taxing district in the category in the code area or if all local option taxes have been eliminated as a result of application of the reduction ratio calculated under subsection (4) of this section, and the pre-compression consolidated category rate as modified under subsection (1) of this section or following further adjustment under subsection (4) of this section exceeds the $5 or $10 per $1,000 category rate limits set forth in subsection (2) of this section (whichever is applicable), the reduction ratio shall be determined under this subsection.

(b) The numerator of the reduction ratio shall be the maximum rate permitted for the category.

(c) The denominator of the reduction ratio shall be the pre-compression consolidated category rate as modified under subsection (1) of this section or following further adjustment under subsection (4) of this section, if applicable.

(d) The assessor shall multiply the reduction ratio determined under this subsection by each taxing district item of ad valorem property tax that is a component of the consolidated category rate for the code area. The sum of the rates so reduced within the category shall be the consolidated rate for the category for the property. After reduction, the assessor shall recompute:

(A) The rates per $1,000 of assessed value for the property;

(B) The total amount of local option taxes to be raised in the code area; and

(C) The total amount of taxes in each category to be raised in the code area. [1997 c.541 §35]